With their many injuries, the Mets likely don’t have the talent to stick with the first-place Phillies, who they play this weekend, but they don’t need their manager enforcing that belief.

Jerry Manuel insisted his team needs to add a bat to the lineup with Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes and Carlos Delgado on the disabled list, statements that can’t be helping the players in the clubhouse, according to SNY analyst Ron Darling.

“You have a roomful of players that are going out there and busting their rear ends to try and get the job done for you, and when you start to implore management to try and get someone else in there, you start wondering ‘What’s wrong with us?’ ” the former Mets hurler said.

“Maybe they aren’t good enough, but players don’t want to hear that.”

Despite all their injuries, the Mets have been able to stay close to the flailing Phillies, who have failed to resemble the World Series champions of last season. Especially in Philadelphia, where the two rivals open a three-game series Friday, and the Phils are 13-22.

“Lucky for the Mets, the Phillies can’t buy a win at home,” Darling said. “They have holes, too.”

Those holes include the loss of Raul Ibanez, who was having an MVP-type season, hitting .312 with 22 home runs and 59 RBIs before a left groin strain sidelined him. Ibanez was expected back Friday, but likely will now miss the Mets series.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel recently benched former MVP Jimmy Rollins, who was playing horribly, for four games to get his head straight. A luxury the Mets’ Manuel surely dreams of.

“If I was Jerry I would say, ‘Hey, listen, we are going to have a beer tonight and figure out some way, somehow to put a lineup out there that’s going to score some runs tomorrow,’ ” Darling said.

Philadelphia’s struggles have allowed Mets GM Omar Minaya to stay with his current roster and try to weather the loss of three of the team’s superstars.

“They have gotten to the point now where one bat isn’t going to fix this team,” Darling said. “You’ve lost three players and replacing them with one player, who isn’t as good as any of the three you’ve lost, doesn’t make sense.

“They should stick with who they have, pitch their rear ends off and try to be a grittier, tougher team.”

No one will have to pitch his rear end off more than Johan Santana, who starts the series finale Sunday.

“The Mets are going to have a hard time with the competition they are going against, but if you win Johan’s start, all you have to do is steal one of the first two games to win the series,” Darling said.